What’s at stake

Another notch in the NFL’s longest-running rivalry. These teams have been playing each other every year since 1923. The Bears hold a 91-83-6 lead in the series, although the Packers won the last two meetings -- the final regular-season game of last season, which clinched a playoff berth for Green Bay, and the NFC championship game three weeks later in Chicago. But the present is more important than the past. The defending NFC North champion Bears are 1-1. A loss on Sunday would put them two games behind the undefeated Packers and, possibly, the Lions, who also would be 3-0 with a win at Minnesota.

Protecting Jay Cutler from the likes of Clay Matthews will be a tough task. (AP Photo)

Critical matchup

Packers left outside linebacker Clay Matthews vs. Bears right tackle Frank Omiyale. A Pro Bowl pick in each of his first two seasons, Matthews is a relentless pass rusher who produced 10 sacks as a rookie in ’09 and 13.5 last season. Omiyale started all 16 games last season, mostly at left tackle, but both J’Marcus Webb and rookie Gabe Carimi beat him out for starting jobs this season. Omiyale, who is playing only because Carimi suffered a knee injury in last week’s loss to New Orleans, will have his hands full.

X-factor

Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz. “Mad Mike” tends to get carried away sometimes, such as in the Saints game, when he dialed up 51 pass plays and only 12 runs. The disproportional pass-run ratio, coupled with two starting offensive lineman having to be replaced by injuries, led to a rough day for Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who was sacked six times (all in the second half) and knocked down on 10 other snaps. The Bears need to rely more on a balanced offense and get Matt Forte (49 yards on just 10 carries against New Orleans) more involved as a runner. Otherwise, Cutler won’t survive the entire season. He already has been sacked 11 times in two games.